A 0.4-mill capital improvement bond issue for Lakeland Community College will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot.

If approved by voters, the bond issue would annually cost Lake County property owners $14 per $100,000 in property valuation, according the Lake County Auditor’s Office.

The bond would generate $40 million to expand and renovate the Health Technologies Building, complete the science hallway renovation and make other infrastructure improvements, to be repaid over a maximum of 27 years.

President Morris W. Beverage Jr. explained that the original health facility was built 20 years ago.

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“Obviously, a lot has changed in the health field since that time,” he said. “This allows us to make current the setting and facility we’re offering.”

Lakeland plans to create up-to-date classrooms and labs for students to be trained on emerging technical skills. These new labs will include simulation technology.

“Simulation as a teaching methodology is a transformational real-life learning experience. Simulation prepares all health professionals for practice across the continuum of care in this complex health care delivery system,” said Deborah L. Hardy, dean of health technologies at Lakeland.

Additionally, Lakeland will be able to add new degree programs, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy assistant.

According to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, by 2020 there will be more than 26,000 new health care jobs in Northeast Ohio requiring an associate’s degree. The renovations will allow Lakeland to accept 700 more students into the health technology programs. Currently, there are 400 prospective students on the wait list.

Beverage emphasizes how this will bring more money into the Lake County economy.

“Our graduates from our health programs are going back into the community, into jobs that really impact everyone. If you go to a hospital, if you go to a doctor or a dentist, anywhere in Northeast Ohio, you’re going to see Lakeland Community College grads,” he said.

Furthermore, Lakeland expects to create construction jobs for the local community. Beverage expects that the jobs to continue over a few years, because of phasing and timing of the construction process.

The state of Ohio already has committed $8.5 million in capital and workforce grants to Lakeland’s expansion and renovation project. Beverage said the bond issue will allow Lakeland to leverage the state funding it already has received.

As of Sept. 21, there are 147,114 registered voters in Lake County eligible to decide on the bond issue, according to the county Elections Board.